VIAVI enhances O-RAN interoperability testing

This scalable software solution provides real-time data for fronthaul verification, analysis, emulation, and channel utilisation. XhaulAdvisor, known in the market for its real-time analytics, assists Open RAN vendors, operators, and OTIC labs in expediting interoperability testing (IOT) and end-to-end testing and troubleshooting.

XhaulAdvisor stands apart from traditional tools that necessitate extended periods for capture, post-processing, and visualisation. It offers a realistic testing and validation environment in real time. This enables vendors and operators to quickly and accurately correlate test anomalies with network events, facilitating troubleshooting of fronthaul and transport timing, packet flows, and channel utilisation, as well as the analysis of M-plane, S-plane, and C/U-plane sessions.

The solution offers various operation modes to suit different application needs, ranging from setup in passive or through mode to analysis in live or post-capture environments. Synchronisation is achievable through open fronthaul or an external timing source. Flexible in deployment, XhaulAdvisor can be utilised on commercial off-the-shelf hardware.

XhaulAdvisor can also be integrated with other VIAVI tools, such as TM500 and TeraVM, present in the testbed. This integration enhances troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and the identification and isolation of issues related to RAN, transport, or synchronisation functions.

Ian Langley, Senior Vice President, Wireless Business Unit, VIAVI, commented: “The complex Open RAN supplier ecosystem demands reliable testing of different network components early in the development cycle. The XhaulAdvisor significantly reduces test time by delivering the industry’s first real-time fronthaul analysis. This solution is part of the VIAVI commitment to increasing confidence in the deployment of Open RAN.”